Anti-GM campaigners Greenpeace have claimed a victory, saying that Australia's three top poultry producers have stopped feeding their chickens genetically modified feed, in response to a Greenpeace campaign highlighting the use of GM soy in chicken feed. [ + ]

GroPep (ASX: GRO) has exceeded its half-year profit forecast by AUD$0.5 million and is on track to post a $3 million profit at the end of the 2004-2005 financial year. [ + ]

For nearly three decades, immunologists have believed that specialised sentries in the surface layer of the skin, called Langerhans cells, alert hunter-killer T-cells to seek out and destroy virus-infected cells. [ + ]

A collaboration between researchers at Victoria University, the Victorian Forensic Science Centre (VFSC) and US genomics company DNAPrint Genomics will test DNAPrint's Retinome assay for iris colour for use in Australia. [ + ]

Functionally, the genomes of humans and other higher life forms have more in common with the intricate circuitry of a computer processor chip than with the simple genomes of bacteria, according to a new theory advanced by Australian researchers. [ + ]

What's New Magazines and Science Industry Australia Inc (SIA) invite entries to the Laboratory of the Year Competition.

Australian biotechnology's peak body, AusBiotech, has questioned the impartiality of Western Australia's agricultural minister Kim Chance in relation to GM crops, following the release of correspondence between the government and activitist GM groups. [ + ]

Mayne Pharma, the pharmaceuticals division of the Mayne group (ASX: MAY) has received a rap over the knuckles from the US FDA for failing to adequately report adverse events resulting from use of its drug products. [ + ]

Meditech Research (ASX: MTR) has reported that its revenues increased 90 per cent to AUD$679,495 while its net loss decreased marginally to $2.7 million during its financial year ending December 31, 2004. [ + ]

What do camels and sharks have in common? A remarkable, binary immune system that quells viruses and other infectious nasties with an efficiency that the human immune system cannot match, according to CSIRO molecular immunologist Dr Peter Hudson. [ + ]

Japanese pharmaceutical giant Takeda has paid US$270 million in cash to acquire Syrxx, a private drug-development company based in San Diego. [ + ]

Tissue Therapies Limited (ASX:TIS) has released its half-year results, recording a net loss of $445,400, in line with budget expectations. [ + ]

New joint venture company, id-DNA, formed by Gribbles Molecular Science (GMS) and Sunshine Technologies (ST), has big plans for its latest tracking technology, which will combine DNA fingerprinting with radio frequency identification tags. [ + ]

One of the legal myths of scientific research -- that using a patented invention is OK as long as that use is only experimental not commercial -- might just become reality later this year. [ + ]

Executives with US experience and contacts in the international equities market remain as popular as ever amongst Australian biotechs, if this week's board appointments are anything to go by. [ + ]